System And Method For Applying Heat And Pressure To Three-Dimensional Articles

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016107404-A1
Application number	US-201514980777-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 28, 2015
Priority date	Feb 22, 2013
Publication date	Apr 21, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A flexible manufacturing system can be used to fuse different layers of material together for forming an article of footwear. The system includes a base portion, an intermediate member and an upper member. The intermediate member includes a flexible membrane. The intermediate member can be sealed with the base portion and a vacuum can be provided to pull the flexible membrane over layers of material placed on the base portion. The upper member can be sealed against the intermediate member so that external pressure can be applied to the flexible membrane. The intermediate member and the upper member can be moved independently.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method of pressing materials for an article of footwear using a flexible manufacturing system, comprising:
associating at least one material layer with a base portion of the flexible manufacturing system; lowering an intermediate member of the flexible manufacturing system onto the base portion so that the at least one material layer is sealed between the base portion and a flexible membrane of the intermediate member; lowering an upper member of the flexible manufacturing system onto the intermediate member; applying a vacuum between the intermediate member and the base portion; increasing pressure in the region between the upper member and the intermediate member; and thereby pressing the flexible membrane against the at least one material layer.

2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the vacuum is applied before the upper member is lowered.

3 . The method according to claim 2 , wherein heat is applied to the at least one layer of material while the vacuum and pressure are applied.

4 . The method according to claim 3 , wherein the at least one material layer is cooled while the vacuum is maintained and while the pressure in the region between the upper member and the intermediate layer is released.

5 . The method according to claim 4 , wherein cooling the at least one material layer includes raising the upper member.

6 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one material layer comprises a first layer for an upper of an article of footwear and wherein a second layer is placed onto the first layer so that the second layer and the first layer can be fused together.

7 . The method according to claim 6 , wherein the first layer and the second layer are placed on a last.

8 . A method of pressing materials for an article of footwear using a flexible manufacturing system, comprising:
associating at least one material layer with a base portion of the flexible manufacturing system; translating an intermediate member of the flexible manufacturing system to any height between the base portion and an upper member of the flexible manufacturing system; lowering the intermediate member onto the base portion so that the at least one material layer is sealed between the base portion and a flexible membrane of the intermediate member; applying a vacuum between the intermediate member and the base portion; and thereby pressing the flexible membrane against the at least one material layer.

9 . The method according to claim 8 , further comprising lowering the upper member onto the intermediate member;
increasing pressure of a cavity of the upper member; and thereby forming a fluid seal between the upper member and the intermediate member.

10 . The method according to claim 9 , further comprising applying heat to air within the cavity while the pressure is applied.

11 . The method according to claim 10 , further comprising cooling the at least one material layer while the flexible membrane remains sealed against the at least one material layer.

12 . The method according to claim 11 , wherein the step of cooling comprises supplying cool air from an air conditioning unit.

13 . A method of pressing materials using a flexible manufacturing system, comprising:
placing one or more material layers on a base portion of the flexible manufacturing system; lowering an intermediate member of the flexible manufacturing system onto the base portion so that a fluid seal is formed between the base portion and a flexible membrane of the intermediate member, thereby the flexible manufacturing system being in a first operating mode; applying a vacuum between the intermediate member and the base portion in the first operating mode; lowering an upper member of the flexible manufacturing system onto the intermediate member so that a fluid seal is formed between the upper member and the intermediate member, thereby the flexible manufacturing system being in a second operating mode; increasing pressure in the region between the upper member and the intermediate member in the second operating mode; and thereby pressing the flexible membrane against the one or more material layers.

14 . The method according to claim 13 , further comprising adjusting a height of the intermediate member relative to the base portion independently of adjusting a height of the upper member relative to the base portion.

15 . The method according to claim 14 , wherein heat is applied through heating elements while the vacuum and pressure are applied.

16 . The method according to claim 15 , wherein the position of the heating elements are adjustable.

17 . The method according to claim 16 , further comprising cooling the flexible membrane while the vacuum is applied.

18 . The method according to claim 17 , further comprising releasing the vacuum and raising the intermediate member.

19 . The method according to claim 13 , wherein the one or more material layers form a three-dimensional shape.

20 . The method according to claim 19 , wherein the one or more material layers are placed on a footwear last.

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Fisher Sam
• Kilmer Jared M
• Berend Thomas
• Le Tony H

Classifications

• B29D35/04 Primary

  having multilayered parts · CPC title

• A43D9/00 Primary

  Devices for binding the uppers upon the lasts (for the toe ends A43D15/00) · CPC title

• B29C51/46

  Measuring, controlling or regulating · CPC title